Above average GPA (just) and 1540 SAT at rigorous HS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:God what a stupid post. OP’s kid allegedly goes to one of the top private schools in the country, it’s apparently not in the DMV, it presumably costs a lot of money and has an established track record - yet OP comes here, to this anonymous forum of (with all due respect) no-nothings and asked where her kid could get into college?

Nuts.

Yup. Which leads me to question whether the poster is even genuine, or just a standard DCUM faker in the college forum looking to whip up a fight club event.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Help me understand where DS stands. GPA is 3.75 in a school where average GPA is 3.7. SAT 1540. School average of 1500.

High school very rigorous, among top 20 private high schools in the country so peer group is super strong. Zero grade inflation. But also many in peer group hooked (rich or URM, etc) so naviance not very helpful.

Upward trajectory with grades. EC are strong and somewhat unique but not nationally ranked. Does well in national debate tournaments, but that's not his main EC. No sports. Will have great essay and LOR

I think being middle of the pack school-wise knocks out top 20 schools. But does it knock out top 40?

What I'm asking is where do middle of the pack kids from Riverdale or Horace Mann go to college?

School average gpa seems unusually high…. Normally private school averages at 3.3 or 3.0.

Not at the most academically selective private HS's. For private HS who only admit 15% or less applicants, they are generally bringing in majority A students from middle school as you apply with grades and standardized test (SSAT or ISEE). So the vast majority of these kids would be getting a 3.8-4.0 average in most high schools. There just aren't that many low scorers at these top selective privates, other than a few nepo babies who are bringing up the rear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Help me understand where DS stands. GPA is 3.75 in a school where average GPA is 3.7. SAT 1540. School average of 1500.

High school very rigorous, among top 20 private high schools in the country so peer group is super strong. Zero grade inflation. But also many in peer group hooked (rich or URM, etc) so naviance not very helpful.

Upward trajectory with grades. EC are strong and somewhat unique but not nationally ranked. Does well in national debate tournaments, but that's not his main EC. No sports. Will have great essay and LOR

I think being middle of the pack school-wise knocks out top 20 schools. But does it knock out top 40?

What I'm asking is where do middle of the pack kids from Riverdale or Horace Mann go to college?

Rigor has more to do with class selection than HS.

No, it does not. Some schools allow anyone to take AP courses. Other schools you need to get an A in a prerequisite course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Help me understand where DS stands. GPA is 3.75 in a school where average GPA is 3.7. SAT 1540. School average of 1500.

High school very rigorous, among top 20 private high schools in the country so peer group is super strong. Zero grade inflation. But also many in peer group hooked (rich or URM, etc) so naviance not very helpful.

Upward trajectory with grades. EC are strong and somewhat unique but not nationally ranked. Does well in national debate tournaments, but that's not his main EC. No sports. Will have great essay and LOR

I think being middle of the pack school-wise knocks out top 20 schools. But does it knock out top 40?

What I'm asking is where do middle of the pack kids from Riverdale or Horace Mann go to college?

School average gpa seems unusually high…. Normally private school averages at 3.3 or 3.0.

Not at the most academically selective private HS's. For private HS who only admit 15% or less applicants, they are generally bringing in majority A students from middle school as you apply with grades and standardized test (SSAT or ISEE). So the vast majority of these kids would be getting a 3.8-4.0 average in most high schools. There just aren't that many low scorers at these top selective privates, other than a few nepo babies who are bringing up the rear.

LOL
Not at Sidwell.
Honey, let me tell you the truth, "vast majority of these kids would be getting a 3.8-4.0" is called grade inflation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

These estimates are based on a very rough idea of what the US News rankings are and me obsessing over Chance Me and admissions results posts on College Confidential for about a year.

A possible s

Continued - A possible solution, if you find these stats disappointing, and you can be full-pay for $40,000 to $60,000 per year, and your son is sane, well-organized and open to an unusual college experience, is to look at universities in Canada, the UK or Ireland, and, possibly, English-language bachelor’s programs in places like Belgium.

The disadvantage would be administrative issues, lack of U.S.-style student support and some suspense about how U.S. employers and grad schools will see the degree. The advantages are that your son might be able to get an affordable, fun, high-quality education, without a lot of admissions insanity.

So, if you see the arguments back and forth here about the University of St. Andrews, that’s way. It would probably be a pretty good fit for someone like your son, and its admissions office wouldn’t make him feel like a worm.

But Scottish people who think of it as the Scottish version of Goucher might wonder why a high-stats student would go there.

The answer would be that, for some kids, going there would be more fun and cheaper than going to Goucher, and much less hassle than trying to get into Bates.

Don't know why people bring up overseas colleges on this forum.

99% of U.S. families have absolutely no interest unless it's graduate school related. Even then, meh.

It's T50 USW&WR nationals and SLACs!

That's about it in DCUM world.

DP: the OP's kid is at one of the T20 private high schools in the US. Oxbridge, LSE, St Andrews, Toronto, etc are serious and viable prospects.

St Andrews sounds to me like they would love this kind of student. They take the Common App, don't require AP scores from US students who attend private high school, and --if you get your application in in early September -- will probably give you a decision by October. It's a good one to have in the pocket.

Oxbridge is more complicated. They do require AP scores (at least five 5s), and, for most subjects, require a subject-specific standardized test for the first round. My experience and data are limited, but it seems like many students who score above 1550 AND are in the top quartile of the required subject test are invited for interviews. After the (subject-based) interviews, about 1/3 are given offers. Not easy at all, but for super-smart kids without national ECs/ sports, hooked parents, or a compelling personal narrative, Oxbridge may be the best opportunity for a top-tier admission.

Whether any particular kid would enjoy university outside the US is another story. . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

These estimates are based on a very rough idea of what the US News rankings are and me obsessing over Chance Me and admissions results posts on College Confidential for about a year.

A possible s

Continued - A possible solution, if you find these stats disappointing, and you can be full-pay for $40,000 to $60,000 per year, and your son is sane, well-organized and open to an unusual college experience, is to look at universities in Canada, the UK or Ireland, and, possibly, English-language bachelor’s programs in places like Belgium.

The disadvantage would be administrative issues, lack of U.S.-style student support and some suspense about how U.S. employers and grad schools will see the degree. The advantages are that your son might be able to get an affordable, fun, high-quality education, without a lot of admissions insanity.

So, if you see the arguments back and forth here about the University of St. Andrews, that’s way. It would probably be a pretty good fit for someone like your son, and its admissions office wouldn’t make him feel like a worm.

But Scottish people who think of it as the Scottish version of Goucher might wonder why a high-stats student would go there.

The answer would be that, for some kids, going there would be more fun and cheaper than going to Goucher, and much less hassle than trying to get into Bates.

Don't know why people bring up overseas colleges on this forum.

99% of U.S. families have absolutely no interest unless it's graduate school related. Even then, meh.

It's T50 USW&WR nationals and SLACs!

That's about it in DCUM world.

DP: the OP's kid is at one of the T20 private high schools in the US. Oxbridge, LSE, St Andrews, Toronto, etc are serious and viable prospects.

St Andrews sounds to me like they would love this kind of student. They take the Common App, don't require AP scores from US students who attend private high school, and --if you get your application in in early September -- will probably give you a decision by October. It's a good one to have in the pocket.

Oxbridge is more complicated. They do require AP scores (at least five 5s), and, for most subjects, require a subject-specific standardized test for the first round. My experience and data are limited, but it seems like many students who score above 1550 AND are in the top quartile of the required subject test are invited for interviews. After the (subject-based) interviews, about 1/3 are given offers. Not easy at all, but for super-smart kids without national ECs/ sports, hooked parents, or a compelling personal narrative, Oxbridge may be the best opportunity for a top-tier admission.

Whether any particular kid would enjoy university outside the US is another story. . . .

What I am trying to figure out is whether St. Andrews or Oxybridge is a good fit for premed students. If it is, how is it done. It just seems no one on DCUM has ever gone there and back to become a doctor in the US. Premed typically requires tons of shadowing, research, and volunteering. There is no such thing as "premed" in the UK, so I assume there is no resource devoted to premed in UK colleges. Correct?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

These estimates are based on a very rough idea of what the US News rankings are and me obsessing over Chance Me and admissions results posts on College Confidential for about a year.

A possible s

Continued - A possible solution, if you find these stats disappointing, and you can be full-pay for $40,000 to $60,000 per year, and your son is sane, well-organized and open to an unusual college experience, is to look at universities in Canada, the UK or Ireland, and, possibly, English-language bachelor’s programs in places like Belgium.

The disadvantage would be administrative issues, lack of U.S.-style student support and some suspense about how U.S. employers and grad schools will see the degree. The advantages are that your son might be able to get an affordable, fun, high-quality education, without a lot of admissions insanity.

So, if you see the arguments back and forth here about the University of St. Andrews, that’s way. It would probably be a pretty good fit for someone like your son, and its admissions office wouldn’t make him feel like a worm.

But Scottish people who think of it as the Scottish version of Goucher might wonder why a high-stats student would go there.

The answer would be that, for some kids, going there would be more fun and cheaper than going to Goucher, and much less hassle than trying to get into Bates.

Don't know why people bring up overseas colleges on this forum.

99% of U.S. families have absolutely no interest unless it's graduate school related. Even then, meh.

It's T50 USW&WR nationals and SLACs!

That's about it in DCUM world.

DP: the OP's kid is at one of the T20 private high schools in the US. Oxbridge, LSE, St Andrews, Toronto, etc are serious and viable prospects.

St Andrews sounds to me like they would love this kind of student. They take the Common App, don't require AP scores from US students who attend private high school, and --if you get your application in in early September -- will probably give you a decision by October. It's a good one to have in the pocket.

Oxbridge is more complicated. They do require AP scores (at least five 5s), and, for most subjects, require a subject-specific standardized test for the first round. My experience and data are limited, but it seems like many students who score above 1550 AND are in the top quartile of the required subject test are invited for interviews. After the (subject-based) interviews, about 1/3 are given offers. Not easy at all, but for super-smart kids without national ECs/ sports, hooked parents, or a compelling personal narrative, Oxbridge may be the best opportunity for a top-tier admission.

Whether any particular kid would enjoy university outside the US is another story. . . .

How about Canadian colleges? Do they also give out acceptance early on in October?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Help me understand where DS stands. GPA is 3.75 in a school where average GPA is 3.7. SAT 1540. School average of 1500.

High school very rigorous, among top 20 private high schools in the country so peer group is super strong. Zero grade inflation. But also many in peer group hooked (rich or URM, etc) so naviance not very helpful.

Upward trajectory with grades. EC are strong and somewhat unique but not nationally ranked. Does well in national debate tournaments, but that's not his main EC. No sports. Will have great essay and LOR

I think being middle of the pack school-wise knocks out top 20 schools. But does it knock out top 40?

What I'm asking is where do middle of the pack kids from Riverdale or Horace Mann go to college?

School average gpa seems unusually high…. Normally private school averages at 3.3 or 3.0.

Not at the most academically selective private HS's. For private HS who only admit 15% or less applicants, they are generally bringing in majority A students from middle school as you apply with grades and standardized test (SSAT or ISEE). So the vast majority of these kids would be getting a 3.8-4.0 average in most high schools. There just aren't that many low scorers at these top selective privates, other than a few nepo babies who are bringing up the rear.

LOL
Not at Sidwell.
Honey, let me tell you the truth, "vast majority of these kids would be getting a 3.8-4.0" is called grade inflation.

Can we agree to stop with the passive aggressive “honey” name calling? So misogynistic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Help me understand where DS stands. GPA is 3.75 in a school where average GPA is 3.7. SAT 1540. School average of 1500.

High school very rigorous, among top 20 private high schools in the country so peer group is super strong. Zero grade inflation. But also many in peer group hooked (rich or URM, etc) so naviance not very helpful.

Upward trajectory with grades. EC are strong and somewhat unique but not nationally ranked. Does well in national debate tournaments, but that's not his main EC. No sports. Will have great essay and LOR

I think being middle of the pack school-wise knocks out top 20 schools. But does it knock out top 40?

What I'm asking is where do middle of the pack kids from Riverdale or Horace Mann go to college?

How can it be that there is “zero grade inflation” but the average grade is an A-?

At my DS’s rigorous DC private many of the class averages are in the 70s.

OP’s school must have more academically-exclusive admissions. If grading is consistent across schools, then a school that mostly admits A students, with some B students, will have an average GPA of A-. If a school admits a broader academic range (more athletes, legacies, donors, and faculty children, for example), the average GPA will be lower.

You clearly don't understand the concept of curve. If a school is rigorous, there will be B/C students no matter what constituents. I suspect this school gives A+ (as A in other privates). So 3.7 out of 4.33

At our non-DMV private, 3.8uw gets into Northwestern /Cornell/ Vanderbilt / UChicago /Brown/Penn (CAS). Slightly higher needed for HYPSM (and Dartmouth!)

At DC's Big3 no one has been admitted to Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Brown or Penn with under a 3.9 in at least 5 years.
Cornell and Chicago will take lower.